Automatically lasting machines

ABSTRACT

A shoe lasting machine having a support automatically orienting shoes with lasting devices which include grippers automatically located at opposite sides of each shoe and adapted to pull the upper predetermined amounts depending on whether the shoe is left or right.

United States Patent Heal et al. I

[ 1 May 9, 1972 [54] AUTOMATICALLY LASTING MACHINES [72] lnventors: Jeremy C. Heal; Raymond Snape, both of Leicester, Leicestershire; Philip B. Gower, Skipton, Yorkshire. all-of England [73] Assignee: USM Corporation, Boston, Mass.

[22] Filed: June 1, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 54,062

. Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 799,856, Feb. l7, i969.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,954,571 IO/i960 Baker 12/127 3,046,578 7/1962 Kamborian et al. 1 2/127 Primary E.\'aminer-Patrick D. Lawson Att0rne \'-'-W.Bigelow Hall, Richard A. Wise and Vincent A. White 57 ABSTRACT A shoe lasting machine having a support automatically orienting shoes with lasting devices which include grippers automatically located at opposite sides of each shoe and adapted to pull the upper predetermined amounts depending on whether the shoe is left or right.

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sum 15 0F 17 AUTOMATICALLY LASTING MACHINES This is a division of application Ser. No. 799,856, filed Feb. 17, 1969 in our names.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to a machine in which a shoe upper mounted on a last is pulled heightwise about the last and wiped inwardly over the shoe bottom. More particularly,the invention is directed to a machine in which a shoe is automatically oriented in the machine so portions of the shoe to be lasted are registered with grippers which pull the shoe upper at opposite sides and to wipars which wipe the tensioned upper over the shoe bottom.

2. Description of the Prior Art Certain automatic lasting machines, for example, of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,376,591, are adapted to position shoes relative to lasting means by a support which is movable from a remote position wherean operator places a shoe to be lasted to an operative position in which the forepart of the shoe is located by gauges. The intent of such machines is to reduce the degree of skill and labor on the part of an operator in accurately positioning the shoe with respect to lasting devices. The gauges used must either be retracted from the shoe out of interferring relation with the lasting means or must form a part of the lasting means. Such gauges are usually useful for locating only the toe end of the forepart of the shoe where there is little difference in the symmetry between left and right shoes as well as between a variety of shoe sizes and styles. However, when it is desired to locate other portions of the shoe, such as the ball region, for lasting there may be substaritial differences in symmetry between various sizes and styles of shoes and especially between right and left shoes. In general shoe supporting and locating devices heretofore available have required considerable operator skill in proper positioning of the shoe or have been unduly complex or are not suitable for general use where non-symmetrical portions of shoes are to be operated upon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of the invention to provide a lasting machine having a shoe support with locating means which, without particular operator skill, will automatically orient a variety of left and right shoes of a wide range of .sizes and styles with respect to lasting devices adapted to operate on particular non-symmetrical portions of such shoes. To demonstrate the particular problem of locating a variety of shoes the machine described herein is adapted to operate on the ball area of shoes where there may be substantial differences in the symmetry of right and left shoes as well as of shoes of different sizes and styles.

The machine of the present invention is provided with a shoe support having a last pin on which an operator places the heel end of a shoe. The support is provided with automatic means for swinging the forepart of the shoe widthwise about the pin and for clamping the shoe with the median line from the center of the toe to the center of the heel of the shoe substantially centered in the machine. For shoes made on engineered lasts, which have an intelligence plate having a predetermined relation to various parts of the last, the swinging means takes the form of clamps engaging the plate. For other types of lasts, the machine is provided with centering devices engaging opposite sides of the shoe. In addition, the shoe support also provides a bar against which the shoe bottom is moved to orient the shoe heightwise.

According to one feature, the machine has means to sense the location of the portion of the shoe to be operated upon and stop movement of the support with such portion in registration with means for operating on that portion. By way of example, the sensing means comprises a finger which is engaged by the ball portion of the shoe bottom.

Another feature is based on the fact that the portions of the shoe to be operated upon usually are not symmetrically spaced from the centerline of the machine with which the median line of the shoe is registered. Accordingly, the machine is provided with means for automatically locating grippers included in the lasting means at the opposite sides of the shoe in proper positions to grip and pull the show upper. The locating of the grippers also determines whether the shoe is right or left and conditions the grippers to pull the upper different amounts at opposite sides of the shoe.

A further feature of the invention provides for the grippers to be adapted to grip the upper margin accurately with respect to the edge of the upper. To this end, each gripper is operated to grip the upper initially under a light force which permits the gripper to slip on the upper when tension is applied. A sensing finger associated with each gripper detects when the edge of the upper slips to a predetermined point in the gripper whereupon a greater force is applied by the gripper to prevent further slippage. Further pulling by the gripper is stopped until the sensing fingers have detected the edge of the upper at both sides of the shoe, whereupon both grippers resume their pulling action.

Other features of the invention, together with novel details of construction and combinations of parts will bedescribed hereafter with particular reference to the drawings. The particular embodiment of the invention disclosed is described by way of example and not for purposes of limitation, it being understood that while the machine described is adapted to last only the ball regions of shoes, it is obvious that other portions of the shoe could be lasted and a variety of substitute mechanisms could be used without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in right side elevation of an illustrative machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of shoe positioning parts of the machine at an intermediate stage in the cycle of operations of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a view showing upper gripping means and insole holddown rods of the machine substantially in the direction of arrow III of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is a section taken substantially on line IV-Iv of FIG. 1, showing operating mechanisms associated with the upper gripping means;

FIG. 5 is a view'in right side elevation of the portion of the machine shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a last clamping mechanism included in FIG. 2 some parts being broken away;

FIG. 7 is an end elevation-of the mechanism shown in FIG. 6 in the direction of arrow VII of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an end elevation in the directionof arrow VIII of FIG. 2 showing parts associated with a toe clamping pad of the machine;

FIG. '9 is a view showing parts associated with an upper gripper assembly and an upper locating member at one side of the machine, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4; FIG. 10 is a section on line X-X ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a portion of one of two upper gripper assemblies of the machine;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of a side clamping assembly and upper wiping means of the illustrative machine;

FIG. 13 is a section on the line XIII-XIII of FIG. 12, but,

with wiper fingers of the upper wiping means advanced;

FIG. 14 is a section on the line XIV-XIV of FIG. 13;

FIGS. 15 and 16 are enlarged views of certain parts in FIGS. 3 and 9 in positions occupied at successive stages in the cycle of operations of the illustrative machine;

FIG. 17 is a plan view including parts shown in FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a front elevation with parts broken away as viewed in the direction of arrow XVIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 19 is a plan view generally similar to FIG. 6, but showing an alternativeform of last support adapted for use with a non-engineered last;

FIG. 20 is a side view of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a perspective view of last support adjustment means associated with the alternative form of last support; and FIG. 22 is a perspective view of an engineered last showing the six directions in which the unsupported last is free to move.

SHOE SUPPORT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the illustrated machine includes side frames 2 carrying a bracket 6 on which a shoe support assembly 21 is mounted. The bracket carries two upstanding members 7 and 9 (FIG. 2) on which are mounted a pair of guide rods 8 slidably supporting a block 10 (see also FIG. 7). The block has a depending extension 12 having a pivot 14 for a lever 16 opposite ends of which carry a pair of cylinders C. Piston rods 17 extending upwardly from the cylinders are pivotally connected to lugs 18 of a plate 26 provided with upstanding arms 28 of the assembly 21. The plate has secured thereto a support member 22 having an upstanding last pin 24 on which a last of a shoe to be operated upon is mounted. The assembly 21 is moved heightwise by the cylinders C and is guided by a pair of links connected to the assembly by studs 23, the links being pivoted on a shaft 13 mounted in an arm 11 upstanding from the block 10.

A cylinder A is secured to the upper ends of the arms 28 and has a piston rod 30 connected to the upper ends of spaced levers 34 pivoted on pins 38 extending inwardly from the arms 28. The lower ends of the levers 34 are connected by a block 42 and a pin 44 to a pair of toggle links 46 (FIG. 6) which at their outer ends are connected to members 48. These members are pivoted on pins 52 upstanding from the plate 26 and are adapted to engage outer faces of clamps 56 (see FIG. 7) pivoted on pins 57 carried in the support member 22, the clamps 56 being normally biased apart by means of a spring 60.

Referring to FIG. 22 there is shown a last 64 of the type commonly referred to as an engineered last. Such a last is provided with a locating plate 62 and a bore 63 substantially perpendicular to the plate. The plate and the bore are accurately located with respect to the various dimensions of the last so that by positioning the last in the machine by the plate and the bore, the operating devices of the machine may be accurately oriented with respect to the various portions of the last. In the use of automatic machines of the type described herein a major problem to be overcome is that of presentation of different shoes in correct orientation to operating instrumentalities of the machine with little or no operator adjustment. Thus, in the present machine where the ball regions of the shoes are to be operated upon automatically by lasting means, it is essential that the ball region of each shoe be correctly positioned with respect to such operating instrumentalities. As indicated in FIG. 22, there are six possible directions in which the last may be moved. These may be summarized in relation to three axes passing through the last. One direction, referred to herein as X extends lengthwise of the last. Another, referred to as Y, extends heightwise of the last, and a third axis, referred to as Z, extends widthwise of the last. In addition, the last may also be rotated about each of these axes as indicated at X1, Y1 and Z1, respectively.

Before commencement of a cycle of operation of the machine the support assembly 21 occupies a forward position as shown in FIG. 1 where an operator places a last on the last pin 24. When the operation of the machine is commenced cylinder A is operated moving the piston rod 30 to the left as seen in FIG. 2 to cause the levers 34 to pivot counterclockwise thereby straightening the toggle links 46 as shown in FIG. 6. This causes the members 48 to pivot and swing the clamps 56 against opposite side surfaces of the plate 62 (FIG. 22) of an engineered last 64 placed on the last pin 24 by the operator,

the plate 62 of the last being supported on the upper face of the support member 22. When the members 56 are clamped against the opposite side surfaces of the plate 62, the last is locked against movement widthwise along axis Z as well as against swinging movement Y1.

The shoe support assembly 21 above described is adapted to orient and secure shoes mounted on engineered lasts. It is desirable, however, that the machine also be adaptable to operate on non-engineered lasts. That is, lasts not having an intelligence plate 62 such as that shown in FIG. 22 by which the last may be located in the machine in the directions 2 and Y1. Referring to FIGS. 19 to 21, there is shown an alternate form of shoe support assembly for positioning non-engineered lasts in the machine. The alternate support assembly is generally similar to the assembly 21 except that the support member 22 which carries the upstanding last pin 24 (seen in FIGS. 6 and 7) is removed from the plate 26 and in its place there is provided a support member 402 having a last pin 400. The member 402 is provided with rollers mounted on the ends of rods 424 and received in arcuate slots 428 in a pair of upstanding brackets 426 secured to the plate 26.as best seen in FIG. 21. The operator places a non-engineered last on the last pin 400 and by rocking the support member 402 so the rolls 430 move in the slots 428, visually levels the last bottom so that the ball line of the last is in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of operation of the wiper fingers 238. The operator then locks the member 402 in position by means of a clamp bolt 439 having a handle 441.

For positioning the last widthwise in direction Y1, the machine is provided with two cylinders Z (FIG. 19) which are mounted on brackets 440 on the forward upright posts 78 of the machine frame. The piston rods of the cylinders are provided with enlarged heads 444, as best seen in FIG. 19. When the operation of the machine is commenced the cylinders Z are operated so that the heads 444 engage the opposite sides of the shoe centralizing the shoe with respect to the centerline of the machine. A heel pad 416 (FIGS. 19 and 20) then is clamped against the heel end of the last holding the last down on the support member 402 as well as preventing swinging movement of the shoe about the last pin 400 and the heads 444 are withdrawn. For clamping, the heel pad is provided with depending arms 410 which are pivotally mounted on pins 408 in the upstanding arms 28. The piston rod of the cylinder A is provided with a head adapted to engage a surface 415 of the pad 416 to press the pad against the heel end of the shoe. The remainder of the operating sequence of the machine is the same for both forms of shoe support assemblies.

SHOE LOCATING MECHANISM The shoe, locked on either support assembly, is thereafter positioned heightwise along axis Y as well as for heightwise swinging movement in direction Z1. To this end, the machine is provided with a bar 66 (FIGS. 1 and 2) having a substantially horizontal serrated surface 72 on its lower side. The bar is provided with two T-shaped portions 65 which are mounted in guide means 67 for movement lengthwise of the shoe. As

best seen in FIG. 18, each guide means comprises two blocks 367 which straddle the related portion 65, the blocks being secured together by screws 372 and fixed to plates 368 supported on posts 78 upstanding from the side frame members 2 (see also FIGS. 1 and 2). The blocks 367 are provided with a plurality of rollers 374 which guide the portion 65 of the bar 66. After the operator places a last on the last pin 24 or 400 the bar 66 is moved forwardly to a position overlying the bottom of the shoe. To this end, the machine is provided with a cylinder W (FIG. 1) which is secured to the machine frame. A piston rod 69 extends rearwardly from the cylinder W, and is connected by a tie member 71 to a rod 73 secured to the rearward end of the bar 66 as seen in FIG. 2. By admission of fluid to the cylinder W at the appropriate time, the bar 66 is moved to its most forward position seen in FIG. 1. After the last is secured, the shoe support assembly 21 is moved lengthwise of 

1. In a machine for lasting shoes, a shoe support having a pin on which a locating hole in the heel end of a shoe last is placed for leveling the shoe bottom across the ball region with lasting means in the machine and for locating the heel end of the shoe widthwise, means for swinging the forepart of the shoe widthwise about the pin to centralize the forepart of the shoe with the lasting means, means for clamping the centralized shoe on the support against swinging movement, a bar extending lengthwise of the last and overlying the median line of the shoe, and means for moving the support heightwise of the shoe toward the bar until the heel and ball regions of the shoe bottom engage the bar for orienting the lengthwise contour of the shoe bottom with the lasting means.
 2. A machine according to claim 1 which is provided with means for moving the support lengthwise of the shoe from a remote position where the shoe may be placed on the support to a position where a particular region of the shoe is registered with the lasting means.
 3. A machine according to claim 2 which is provided with means for sensing the arrival of said particular region of the shoe in registration with the lasting means for stopping the operation of said lengthwise support moving means.
 4. A machine according to claim 3 in which the sensing means includes a finger which is engaged by the ball region of the shoe bottom.
 5. A machine according to claim 1 in which the heightwise moving means includes two fluid operated motors arranged to swing the support heightwise until both the heel and ball regions of the shoe bottom engage the bar.
 6. A machine according to claim 1 in which the swinging and clamping means include a pair of coacting members which engage the opposite sides of an intelligence plate on an engineered last on which the shoe is mounted.
 7. A machine according to claim 1 in which the swinging means include a pair of coacting members which engage the opposite sides of the shoe. 